New Era University

College of Engineering and Architecture

Architecture Department

CE 202-18

PLANE SURVEYING

ASSIGNMENT # 1

Compass Rule

Name: Donna May R. Morales Schedule: Wed. 7:00-12:00

Block: 2AR-3 Date Submitted: May 26, 2021

 Engr. Raffy T. Delos Reyes
Instructor

Compass Rule

The compass or bow ditch rule which has named after the distinguished American
navigator Nathaniel bow ditch (1773-1838)
The compass rule is based on the assumption that all lengths wee measured with equal
care and all angles taken with approximately the same precision. It is also assumed that
the errors in measurement are accidental and that the total error in any side of the
traverse is directly proportional to the total length of the traverse.
The compass rule may be stated as follows: the correction to be applied to the latitude
or departure of any course is equal to the total closure of latitude or departure ,
multiplied by the ratio of the length of the course to the total length or perimeter of the
traverse. These correction are given by the following equations.
C1= CL(d/D) Cd=CD(d/D)
Where:
C1 = correction to be applied to the latitude of any course
Cd = correction to be applied to the departure of any course
CL = total closure in latitude or the algebraic sum of the north and south latitudes
(∑NL+∑ED)
CD = total closure in departure or the algebraic sum of the east and west departures
(∑ED+∑WD)
d = length of any closure
D= total length or perimeter of the traverse

All computed corrections should be added to check whether their respective sums
equal the closures in latitude and departure. To determine the adjusted latitude of any
course the latitude correction is either added to or subtracted from the computed
latitude of the course. A simple rule to remember is: if the sum of the north latitudes
exceeds the sum of the south latitudes , latitudes corrections are subtracted from north
latitudes and added to corresponding south latitudes. However , if the sum of the south
latitudes exceeds the sum of the north latitudes, the correction are applied in the
opposite manner. A similar procedure is used when adjusting the departures. After all
corrections have been applied properly to the latitudes and departures of the traverse. it
will be expected that a perfect closure will be obtained.

Adjusted length and directions

L’=

Tan α=

Where:
L’ = adjusted length of a course
Lat’ = adjusted latitude of a course
Dep’ = adjusted departure of a course
α = adjusted horizontal angle between the reference meridian and a course
COMPASS RULE
(problem)
Given the accompanying tabulation are the observed data for a traverse obtained from
a transit-tape survey. Determine the latitudes and departures of each course and
balance these quantities by employing the compass rule. Also determine the linear error
of closure, bearing of the side of error and the relative error of closure. tabulates values
accordingly
 a) Computing Latitudes:
Lat = length x cos α
b) Computing Departures
Dep = length x sin α

c) Determining Total Closure in Latitudes and Departures’

∑NL = +493.57 + 590.53 + 377.19
= +1461.29m (summation of north latitudes)
∑SL = -325.53 – 996.99 – 121.96
=- 1444.48m (summation of south latitudes)
∑ED = +47.53 + 612.23 + 791.09 + 219.51
= +1670.36m (summation of east departures)
∑WD = -1110.58 – 541.70
=- 1652.28 (summation of west departure)
CL = ∑NL + ∑SL = +1461.29 + (-1444.48)
= +16.81 m
CD = ∑ED + ∑WD = +1670.36 + (-1652.28)
= +18.08m
D = d1 + d2 +d3 +d4 +d5 + d6

d) Determining corrections for latitude

K1=
K1=
CAB = 0.00336 X 495.85 = 1.67
CBC =0.00336 X 850.62 =2.86
CCD =0.00336 X 855.45 =2.88
CDE =0.00336 X 1020.87 =3.43
CEF =0.00336 X 1117.26 =3.75
CFA =0.00336 X 660.08 =2.22
SOLUTION CHECK:
1.67+2.86+2.88+3.43+3.75+2.22 = 16.81
16.81=16.819(CHECKS)

e) Determining corrections for departure

K2=
K2=

CAB = 0.00362 X 495.85 = 1.79

CBC =0.00362 X 850.62 = 3.08
CCD =0.00362 X 855.45 = 3.09
CDE =0.00362 X 1020.87= 3.69
CEF =0.00362 X 1117.26= 4.04
CFA =0.00362 X 660.08 = 2.39
SOLUTION CHECK:
1.79+3.08+3.09+3.69+4.04+2.39= 18.08
18.08=18.08(CHECKS)
f) tabulated solutions

g) ADJUSTED LATITUDES:
ADJ LAT= COMPUTED LAT ± Cl
NOTE: SINCE THE SUM OF NORTH LATITUDES EXCEEDS THE SUM OF SOUTH
LATITUDES. LATITUDES CORRECTIONS ARE SUBTRACTED FROM THE
CORRESPONDING NORTH LATITUDES AND ADDED TO CORRESPONDING
SOUTH LATITUDES TO DETERMINE THE ADJUSTED LATITUDES.
ADJUSTED DEPATURES:
ADJ DEP= COMPUTED DEP ± Cd
NOTE: SINCE THE SUM OF EAST DEPARTURE EXCEEDS THE SUM OF WEST
DEPATURES, THE DEPARTURE CORECTIONS ARE SUBTRACTED FROM THE
CORRESPONDING EAST DEPARTURES AND ADDED TO CORRESPONDING
WEST DEPARTURES TO DETERMINE THE ADJUSTED DEPARTURES.
h) Determining the linear error of closure, bearing of the side of error and relative
error of closure

LEC =

LEC =
 = 24.69 (linear closure of error)

Tan β = =
= 1.075550
β = 47’ 05’ (bearing of the side of error = S44 05W)
RP = LEC/D
=24.69/5000.13
= 1/202.52
= SAY 1/1000 (relative precision)

ADJUSTMENTS OF LENGTH AND BEARING

Given the observed and calculated data in the problem . Determine the adjusted length
and adjusted bearing of each course and tabulate accordingly.

a) Determining adjusted length of each course

L’AB= = 494.02m
L’BC= = 846.02m
L’CD= = 853.70m
L’DE= = 1023.43m
L’EF= = 1121.69m
L’FA= = 660.78m

b) Determining adjusted bearing of each course TAN α =

TAN α AB == N 5°19’E
TAN α BC == N 46°02’E
TAN α CD == S 67°23’E
TAN α DE == S12°10’ E
TAN α EF == S 83°34’W
TAN α FA == N55°26’W

C) tabulated solution:

TRANSIT RULE
The method of adjusting a traverse by the transit rule similar to the method using the
compass rule. The main difference is that with the transit rule the latitude and departure
corrections depend on the length of the latitude and departure of the course respectively
instead of both depending on the length of the course.

C1 =
Cd =
Where:
C1 = correction to be applied to the latitude of any course
Cd = correction to be applied to the departure of any course
CL = total closure in latitude or the algebraic sum of the north and south latitudes (∑NL
+ ∑SL)
CD = total closure in departure or the algebraic sum of the east and west departures
(∑ED + ∑WD)
Since the north latitudes are positive quantities and south latitudes are negative
quantities, the arithmetical sum of all latitudes is obtained if the summation of south
latitudes is subtracted from the summation of north latitudes. Similarly , the arithmetical
sum of all departure is subtracted from the summation of east departures since east and
west departures are positive and negative quantities, respectively. Another way to
determining these arithmetical sums is simply to add the absolute values of the required
quantities.

Transit rule
Formula use to determine the latitude and departure:

A) Computing latitudes
LAT = Length x Cos α
LATab = 495.85 x Cos 05°30’ = +493.57 m
LATbc = 850.62 x Cos 46°02’ = +590.53 m
LATcd= 855.45 x Cos 112°22’ = -325.53 m
LAT de= 1020.87 x Cos 167°35’ = -996.99 m
LAT ef= 1117.26 x Cos 263°44’ = -121.96 m
LATfa = 660.08 x Cos 304°51’ = + 377.19 m

B) Computing departures
DEP = Length x Sin α
DEPAB= 495.85 x Sin 05°30’ = +47.53 m
DEPBC= 850.62 x Sin 46°02’ = +612.23 m
DEPCD= 855.45 x Sin 112°22’ =+791.09 m
DEPDE= 1020.87 x Sin 167°35’ =+219.51 m
DEPEF= 1117.26 x Sin 263°44’ =-1110.58 m
DEPFA= 660.08 x Sin 304°51’ =-541.70 m
C) Tabulated solution

A) Determining the total closure

∑NL = +493.57 + 590.53 + 377.19
= + 1461.29 m (summation of north latitudes)
∑SL = -325.53 – 996.99 – 121.96
= -1444.48 m (summation of south latitudes)
∑ ED = +47.53 + 612.23 + 791.09 + 219.51
= +1670.36 m (summation of east departures)
∑WD = -1110.58 – 541.70
= -1652.28 m (summation of west departures)
CL = ∑NL + ∑SL
= + 1461.29 + (- 1444.48)
= +16.81 m (total closure in latitude)

CD = ∑ED + ∑WD
= +1670.36 + (- 1652.26)
= +18.08 m (total closure in departure)
B) Determining correction for latitude: KI=
Where:
KI = corrections
CI = LAT x (KI)
Solution:
KI= = 0.00579
CAB= 493.57 x 0.00579 = 2.86 m
CBC= 590.53 x 0.00579 = 3.42 m
CCD= 325.53 x 0.00579 = 1.88 m
CDE= 996.99 x 0.00579 = 5.77 m
CEF=121.96 x 0.00579 = 0.70 m
CFA= 377.19 x 0.00579 = 2.18 m

Solution check : sum of latitude corrections = CL

2.86 + 3.42 + 1.88 + 5.77 + 0.70 + 2.18 = 16.81
16.81 = 16.81 (check)

C) Determining corrections for departure: K2 =

Where:
K2 = corrections
Cd= LAT x (KI)
K2= =0.00544
CAB = 47.53 x 0.00544 = +47.27 m
CBC = 612.23 x 0.00544 = +608.90 m
CCD = 791.09 x 0.00544 = +786.78 m
CDE = 219.51 x 0.00544 = +218.32 m
CEF = 1110.58 x 0.00544 = -1116.62 m
CFA = 541.70 x 0.00544 = -544.65 m

NOTE: since the sum of the east departures exceeds the sum of the west departures,
the departures corrections are subtracted from the corresponding east departures and
added to corresponding west departures to determine the adjusted departures.

Solution check: algebraic sum of adjusted departures = 0.00 + 47.27 + 608.90 + 786.78
+ 218.32 – 1116.62 – 544.65 = 0.00
0.00=0.00 (checks)

ADJUSTMENTS OF LENGHTS AND AZIMUTHS

Given the observed and calculated data in problem no. 1 determine adjusted length and
adjusted azimuth (reckoned from north) of each course and tabulate values accordingly.

A) Determining adjusted length of each course L’

L’AB = (adjusted length of course AB)
L’BC = (adjusted length of course BC)
L’CD = (adjusted length of course CD)
L’DE = (adjusted length of course DE)
L’EF = (adjusted length of course EF)
L’FA = (adjusted length of course FA)

B) Determining adjusted azimuth of each course: TAN α=

TAN α= (therefore azimuth from north of course AB is 5°30’)

TAN α= = 46°03’ (therefore azimuth from north of course BC is 46°03’)

TAN α= = 67°24’ (therefore azimuth from north of course CD is 67°24’)

TAN α= = 12°17’ (therefore azimuth from north of course DE is 12°17’)

TAN α= = 83°44’ (therefore azimuth from north of course EF is 83°44’)

TAN α= = 55°27’ (therefore azimuth from north of course FA is 55°27’)

C) TABULATED SOLUTION:
Citation: Compass Rule and Transit rule - Civil Engineering Website (google.com)